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Plea:

On the 11th October 2009, two beautiful boys entered the world…….Oliver was silent and still, Benjamin gave the smallest of cries before joining his brother in the stars 8 hours later.

The following year for Father’s Day I tried to find a suitable card for my wonderful husband from the boys plus our 4 early losses we had suffered up to that point. He was still a Daddy and deserved to be recognised as such. There was nothing at all that would fit what I wanted so I decided to get my craft items out and make him one. I’ve always had an interest in crafts, especially card making, beadwork and sewing. I was able to do a design which was very personal for him and say what I needed it to say.

A friend saw it and told me to start a selling group on Facebook as she knew there would be a lot of people in similar situation to us.

I continued to suffer more losses and the heartache and grief developed into depression with anxiety and agoraphobia. I seemed to be spiralling and couldn’t stop, I desperately need a focus……something to make me feel worthwhile again.

I developed the selling group into a sale page, focusing on babyloss cards and keepsakes. I wanted to keep it small and informal so I could give a very personal service to the people who needed the items I could provide. My aim is to make sure that I can give families cards for all occasions incorporating their sunshine, Angel and rainbow children, making everything as personal as I can. One of the things I have loved about running my page is watching a lot of the families go on to have a rainbow baby (or 2). A rainbow will never take the place of a lost baby but can go a long way to putting happiness back into shattered lives. I have loved being able to make happy rainbow covered items and watching the families grow. I now make cards, bagcharms, crystal decorations, wall plaques, felt pieces…………an endless list. I had to bring in a few general pieces as well as the babyloss items as it is very hard emotionally at times. With each new person who finds my page, is another heartbreaking story of loss………….I try as best I can to offer emotional support to make the whole process of ordering as easy as possible. A parent shouldn’t be buying a card to write and place in a casket, or buying cards for heavenly birthdays or Christmases. They shouldn’t be needing an ornament to have on display in an attempt to keep their baby’s memory alive. I try to talk them through and incorporate as many personal touches as I can, giving them that special piece for their special angel.

I was nominated for this award by a lovely Mummy called Katie. It has been an absolute honour making items, not only for her angel baby but for her rainbows as well. This is what she had to say………..”I have known this lady for a few years now since my daughter passed away, I found her page, she makes and creates beautiful keepsakes in memory of babies, not just for them also for special occasions like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day etc. beautiful little gifts from your angel, I really struggling when I lost my daughter, Jo has helped me I love having her make my daughters memory’s for us she puts so much effort and love into them, since having my daughter I have been lucky enough to also have 2 rainbow baby’s. I love the fact that Jo can put all my babies together in our special occasions is just amazing, if there is anything I want she is the person to do it, not only does she make items she gives so much comfort to the Angel parent community, she does a candle of rememberance for children and babies who have gone too soon. Jo also gives so much for daddy Angel parents, not many pages include Dads but I find Jo does some incredible stuff. This lady really needs to know how much of a difference she makes to us Angel parents, she is incredibly strong, and she has suffered multiple losses too. She is an inspiration to me and my family xx”

Jane very kindly wrote…………

“Jo, I treasure every single item I have purchased from you for my little grandson, and without these I wouldn’t be in a position to be able to celebrate what he means to me. I have not found in the last 4 years anything which I could happily take and place on his memory plaque in a shop. Your work brings so much comfort to so many people, who will be forever grateful. Once Christmas, and birthdays are over, I collect my cards and put them in my own memory box for James, and they just bring me that little bit of happiness, amongst the tears, knowing that I can celebrate his short life. But knowing there is someone there to make these items, who totally understands the pain we go through, is just beyond any words.”

I have been very touched by the fact that I have been nominated for the last 3 years for this award but have been unable to progress to be shortlisted for emotional reasons……the ceremonies have just been held too close to the boys’ birthday. This year is the first year I have felt emotionally strong enough to overcome the obstacles and face the prospect of going which is a wonderful feeling. I’m looking forward to meeting many other inspirational people who work tirelessly to spread awareness.

Although I wish with all my heart that these items weren’t necessary, it helped me immensely being able to channel my grief into doing something positive in memory of our babies. It helped lift me from despair, into feeling like I was achieving something and making my babies proud of their mummy. I have developed some wonderful online friendships with people all around the world, and have been lucky enough to meet with families from the UK, and have what one lovely friend has described as ‘a forever friendship’. Our babies have brought us together and I love to think of my 13 little angels running around Heavens playground with the children of my friends.

What others have said:

Jo makes and creates beautiful keepsakes in memory of babies, for special occasions like Mother’s Day, Father’s day. Beautiful little gifts that come from your angel. This lady really needs to know how much of a difference she makes to us Angel parents , she is incredibly strong, she has also suffered multiple losses too! She’s an inspiration to me and my family.